Former advisor to David Cameron arrested on suspicion of raping underage teen

A FORMER advisor to David Cameron has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 13-year-old girl.

Doug Richard has been questioned on suspicion of raping an underage teenager

Doug Richard, 56, who starred on the the first two series of the BBC's Dragon Den, was quizzed by police earlier this month and released on bail until March.

The American born technology entrepreneur, who travelled with Mr Cameron on an official government trip to southern Africa in 2011, strongly denies the allegations.

He has also worked as an advisor to Chancellor George Osborne.

A City of London Police spokesman said: "Detectives arrested a 56-year-old man on January 5, 2015, on suspicion of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming and rape of a girl under the age of consent."

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Doug Richard starred in the first series of BBC's Dragons Den

I absolutely deny the allegations made about me. It would be inappropriate to comment further

Doug Richard

And in a statement to the Sunday Mirror, the married father-of-three said: "I absolutely deny the allegations made about me. It would be inappropriate to comment further."

Richard's relationship with the British prime minister dates back to at least 2007 when the then Opposition leader invited the technology entrepreneur to pen a report into the state of small businesses.

The entrepener and his review were mentioned in the 2012 Budget when the Chancellor expressed his unreserved support for the Review.

And in 2011 Richard, who lives in Cambridge, joined Mr Cameron on a two-day trip to South Africa and Nigeria.

Richard made his millions in the 1990s by buying and selling software firms in his native California, before moving to the UK in 2001.

He was one of the original Dragons, but left the show in 2005 after failing to make any investments during the second series.

In 2006 Richard received a Queen's Award for Enterprise for his work promoting, developing and helping entrepreneurs.

He later founded School for Start Ups, which is described as creating " education programs events and online support for budding entrepreneurs". It works in partnership with leading UK Universities, the Royal Institution and the British Library.